Karo Step Hammock Underquilt
July 28th, 2010 | by admin |
A narrated slide show of how I stitched together a Karo Step underquilt for hammock camping. It weighs in with a stuff sack at 500 grams with about 8 cm of loft average. The loft can be adjusted because the style of the baffle allows the down to shift with focused effort.
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8 Responses to “Karo Step Hammock Underquilt”
By terrarosagear on Jul 29, 2010 | Reply
@tjk8881 Yes basicly its just replicated on the other side the same as the first creating a “shell” and to get the down in I just stuff it by hand as its all one compartment there is no need to measure for each baffled section as in a quilt.
By tjk8881 on Jul 29, 2010 | Reply
Cool Vid! I have been looking for a video like this to show how this is done…Could you explain the baffles (netting) for me? What I mean is it looks like you have sewn one side of the square to the one side of the quilt, but I don’t understand what you did after that. Do the pieces of netting just float in there or are they sewn to the other side too? Also, what process did you use to get the down into the quilt? Thanks
By tjk8881 on Jul 29, 2010 | Reply
Cool Vid! I have been looking for a video like this to show how this is done…Could you explain the baffles (netting) for me? What I mean is it looks like you have sewn one side of the square to the one side of the quilt, but I don’t understand what you did after that. Do the pieces of netting just float in there or are they sewn to the other side too? Also, what process did you use to get the down into the quilt? Thanks
By terrarosagear on Jul 29, 2010 | Reply
@sweetypie000 Shaking will move the down a bit but the best way is to actually pat it and guide the down to where you want it. I haven’t heard any one ever coating the fabric to keep down in place. I think that would be messy and add weight. It also is not needed as the down will hold itself in place very well any way. Especially if the item is over stuffed making it bulge slightly.
By sweetypie000 on Jul 29, 2010 | Reply
@terrarosagear just to add, couldnt you just lightly glue on some netting with silicon ? or coat the fabric in places with something similar that has a grip?
By sweetypie000 on Jul 29, 2010 | Reply
@terrarosagear ah! so the down does not go into the netting at all? it’s is purely there as a ‘brake’ ?
so to shift it you give it a good shake? i think i got it now !
ty
By terrarosagear on Jul 29, 2010 | Reply
@sweetypie000 Not to worry, The netting keeps the down from sliding about. I use netting for the baffles because it is light and flexible. You could also use scraps from the shell with no Ill effects. The theory behind a KARO STEP is that when you want you can make the down move into different sections. With a regular horizontal baffle that cannot happen. So if I want more down and then more warmth around my upper legs I can move more down there. Its very handy.
By terrarosagear on Jul 29, 2010 | Reply
Thanks sweetypie000 and well done on the sewing machine. I hope your projects are a bit of fun.
To answer your questions though. The netting that you see is the baffle which holds the down in place once it is inside the shell. If the baffles were not there the down would move around causing cold spots when in use. The KARO STEP is a style of baffle that I tried out on this project with great results. The most common baffle style is horizontal baffles. A google search will give you more detail:)